Ecology Center launches creek outreach Monday, September 11, 2006 The Sonoma Ecology Center is starting a new program to support streamside landowners located on Sonoma Creek between Glen Ellen and Kenwood. The objective is to share information and explore opportunities for a coordinated response to creek management issues, especially in the wake of the New Years' flood. The project will include: Neighborhood creek salons where people can gather and share their priorities for managing Sonoma Creek. Distribution of a stream stewardship binder with reference materials for streamside landowners. A creek survey to map problem areas (flooding/erosion), habitat, and opportunities for restoration. Technical workshops by scientists working in the field. A summary report that spells out constraints and opportunities for management of Sonoma Creek and the needs to be addressed. An invitation to develop ongoing Sonoma Creek Stewardship groups to be able to respond collectively to upcoming local and state initiatives for water management that may impact private landowners. The ecology center will be holding creek salons early this fall with the goal of completing the creek survey by the end of the fall season and then developing a final report with community input over the course of 2007. The center is currently seeking interested parties who may wish to host a neighborhood "creek salon" to get people together to start a dialogue about creek management issues. If anyone is interested in hosting a salon or wish to get involved in general, contact Dr. Lisa Micheli, restoration program manager at Sonoma Ecology Center, 996-0712 x 107 or lisa@sonomaecologycenter.org.   http://www.sonomanews.com/articles/2006/09/11/430/update01.txt